Dahlia plant named `Karma Lagoon`

ABSTRACT

A dahlia plant variety producing purple/violet flowers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of Dahliahybrida known by the varietal denomination `Karma Lagoon`. The femaleparent of `Karma Lagoon` is a variety known as `Stratos` and the maleparent is the variety known as `Claudette`, both of which are not knownto be patented.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new variety is a dahlia plant useful for growing outdoors and underglass which produces attractive purple/violet flowers on long stems.Among the traits possessed by the new variety which in combinationdistinguish it from other varieties known to the inventor are itsattractive flowers borne on long stems.

Asexual reproduction by cuttings of the new variety in The Netherlandshas demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as describedherein for `Karma Lagoon` are firmly fixed and are retained throughsuccessive generations of asexual reproduction.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTS

The new variety differs from its parents in flower color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATION

The accompanying color photographic illustration shows a typical bloomof the new variety in colors as nearly true as possible with anillustration of this type.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

In the following description, color references are to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, where color values refer to colorplate numbers in this chart.

The following observations are of plants described and grown in TheNetherlands under outdoor conditions which approximate those generallyused in commercial practice.

`Karma Lagoon` has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype may vary with variations in environment suchas temperature, light intensity, day length and cultural conditions.

Parentage:

Female parent.--`Stratos`.

Male parent.--`Claudette`.

Plant:

Form.--Upright, spreading.

Height.--About 80 cm.

Branching characteristics.--Moderate.

Flower stem.--Strong, straight. Length: About 60 to 70 cm. Color: Near187A.

Hardiness.--Plants are winter hardy to 0° C.

Natural flowering season.--July to November in The Netherlands underglass.

Disease resistance.--Similar to the species.

Foliage.--Quantity: Many. Size of leaf: Compound leaflet leaf lengthabout 22 cm, width about 13 cm; single leaf length about 8.7 cm, widthabout 4.9 cm. Shape of leaf: Ovate, apex is acute, base is acute. Leafedge: Juvenile leaf margin is Entire, mature leaf margin is Dentate.Texture: Leaf upperside: Leathery. Leaf under side: Smooth. Color: Leafupperside: Near 137A. Leaf under side: Near 191A. Venation: Pinnate.Petiole length: Terminal, about 10 cm, lateral about 5 cm. Stipules:None. Stem color: Near 187A.

Sepals.--Number: About 35. Length: About 1.9 cm. Width: About 1.5 cm.Color: Near 137A. Base: Rounded. Apex: Broadly acute.

Bud:

Form.--Globular.

Size.--About 1 cm.

Opening rate.--About 14 to 20 days.

Color of ray florets.--When sepals first divide near 80B; when rayflorets begin to unfurl near 80B.

Flower:

Inflorescence.--Blooms borne singly. Bloom form: Decorative. Bloomdiameter: About 12 cm. Flowering: About 2 to 3 main branches areproduced, with flowering occurring 35 to 40 days later.

Color tonality from a distance.--Violet/blue.

Lasting quality.--About 20 days on plant; about 7 to 9 days aftercutting.

Ray florets.--Length: About 5.8 cm. Width: About 2.1 cm. Shape: Oblong.Apex: Obtuse. Base: Rounded. Color: Purple/violet. Inner ray florets(upper surface and undersurface): Near 80B. Outer ray florets (uppersurface and undersurface): Near 80B. Point of ray floret attachement:Near 80C. As bloom ages: Colors fade to near 78C tones. Fragrance: None.

Disc florets.--Number: About 20. Length: About 1.3 cm. Color: Near 7A.Shape: Cylindric.

Reproductive organs:

Stamens.--Near 17A.

Anthers.--About 2 mm, near 17B.

Pollen.--Near 12A.

Pistils.--Styles divided, near 12A; stigmas near 12A.

Character of ovaries.--1 per pistil.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct dahlia plant of the variety substantiallyas shown and described.